Pressure-operated switch



T. D. MONTEE.

PRESSURE OPERATED SWITCH.

APPLICATION FILED OCT. 18, 1920.

Patented May 16, 1922.

- INVENTOR. J72, fifalzza TRACY n. ourns, .oninoiro, :eninirrmn 'Is ANns.

PRESSURE-OPERATED SWITCH.

Specification of Letters Patent. Patented M 6 pg Application filed Cctober 18, 1920. Serial No, 417,671.

To all whom it may concern:

Be' it known that'l, TRACY D. Mon'rnn, a citizen oi the United States, residing at lloilo, Philippine-Islands, have invented certain new and'useful Improvements in a Pres sure-Operated Switch, of which the follow 'ing is a specification.

I This invention relates to devices for auto mat cally cutting out the source ofpower for engines of variouskinds whenthe lubricating element runs low, and has for one of its objectstosimplifiy and improve the'construction and increase the efficiency: and

. utility of deviceso't thischaracter.

. Another Object of the invention is to pro vide a device ofthischaracter having means whereby the parts operatedbythe pressure 'of'the liquid 'inthe cylinderrinay be' locked in inoperative position.

Vith these and other 'objectsin view, the

invention consists in certain novel features of construction as hereinafter shown and de-v scribed and then specifically pointed out in the claims, and in the drawings illustrative Figure 1 is a side elevation.

Fig. 2 is a plan view.

Fig. 3 is a vertical section on the line 3--3 of Fig. 1.

The improved device comprises a cylinder 10 having a bracket 11 whereby it may be attached to a suitable support. Attached to one end of thecylinderis a closure 12into which a coupling member 13 isconnected for a supply of liquid under pressure. The improved device is designed more particularly for connection with an oil pump whereby an engine is supplied with a lubricant, and thecoupling 13 is adapted to be connected to such. a device, not shown, as it forms no part of the present invention. The closure 12 is provided with. a suitable packing element 14,

and is held in position by clamp screws 15.

Disposed within the cylinder 1.0 is a relatively long plunger 16'against whose lower end the liquid passing through the intake 13 exerts its force to maintain the plunger normally in elevated position. c

At the end opposite to the closure 12 the cylinder 10 is enlarged slightly as shown at 1.7, and the plunger extends by a reduced portion 18 into the chamber produced by the enlargement, as shown and leading from the enlarged portion of the cylinder, is an air escape or vent device 19.

Extending from the reduced portion18 of the plungerlti and through the adj acent end of thecylinder, is a stem 20. Attached 'in any su1table manner to the enlarged end of the cylinder is a supporting plate 22 preferably with upturned edges23, andbearing upon this plate and between the upturned edges-is another plate .24- of insulating masecured in devices 21.

is preferably of resilient material with its free end normally spaced-from the insulated plate 22.

The fastening screw 25 is adapted to connect a suitable electric conductor, a portion of which is represented at 27, adapted to be connected ,to a suitable controlling or governing device, suchasa,magneto,not shown. or thepreferredembod ment of the lnven- Attaclied to the outer end of'thestem 2O "is a disk 28 which extends over the" free spaced end of the contact 26, and is adapted adapted to extend by its shorter end into the i pathof the disk 28. The shorter end of the lever 31 1s sufliciently thick to hold the disk ttached to the fibre member 24 cyand ex- 1 i 28 from contact with the memberQ26, when i disposed in horizontal position, as shown in Fig. 1, and thus lock the device from operation or from functioning, as hereafter explained.

The device as shown, being associated with the oil pump of an engine, the pressure created by the pump will cause a portion of the oil to pass into the cylinder beneath the plungerwhich it will elevate and hold in elevated pos1tion so long as the pressure continues. The plunger being thus elevated will hold the disk 28 from contact with the member 26. The weighted end of the lever 31 will also hold the shorter end thereof out of the path of the disk 28. r

If the flow of oil ceases fromany cause,

the pressure against the plunger will also cease the latter will fall by gravity carrying the disk 82 with it which will contact with the member 26 and short circuit the ma neto or other controlling element with which the member 27 is coupled, and thus stop the engine until the engineer or chaufi'eur can supply the requisite lubricating element to the pump.

Thus it will be impossible for the engine to 11 dry.

hen starting the engine it is necessary to raise the disk 28 and turn the lever 81. into a horizontal position or with its shorter end between the disk 28 and the insulating member 24L. The shorter end of the lever 31 being thicker than the contact plate 26 does not allow the disk 28 to touch the plate. As soon as the engine starts and there is pressure in the oil pipes, the disk 28 is raised to its upper position. This releases the lever 3i, which is heavier on the outer end, and it will drop to a perpendicular position, allowing the disk 28 to come in contact with the contact plate 22 when. the oil pressure ceases in the oil pipes and again short circuits the magneto. I

The preferred embodiment of the invention is disclosed in the drawings and set forth in the specification, but it will be understood that any modifications within the scope of the claims may be made in the construction without departing from the principle of the invention or sacrificing any of its advantages.

lVhat is claimed is:

l. A device of the class described comprising a cylinder having a plunger and an inlet at one end to provide for the entrance of liquid under pressure to maintain the plunger normally at one end of the cylinder,

a stationary contact device attached to the cylinder and adapted for connection with electric governing devices, a contact associated with the plunger and movable thercwith and held normally from contact with the stationary contact by the plunger and adapted to close a circuit when the pressure against the plunger is reduced, a stop lever pivoted near one end and having its shorter end extending into the path of the movable contact whereby closing of the circuit is prevented.

2. A device of the class described comprising a cylinder having a plunger and an inlet at one end to provide for the entrance of liquid under pressure to maintain the plunger normally at one end of the cylinder, a stem extending in advance of the cylinder, a stationary contact device attached to the cylinder and adapted for connection with electric governing devices, a contact device attached to said stem and held normally out of engagement with the stationary contact by the plunger, and a stop lever pivoted near one end and extending by its shorter end into the path of the movable contact carried by the stem whereby the closing of the circuit is prevented.

In testimony whereof, I afiix my signature hereto.

TRACY D. MONTEE. 

